Red Sox Memoirs - Spiderman and The Rocket (1996 - )

[YEAH DAAAAWG]

SPIDERMAN AND ROCKET UPDATE
ALL-STAR BREAK

DH/SS NOMAR GARCIAPARRA (90/98), #3 BATTER, 23 YEARS OLD

Season expectations: I'm hoping that with a full-season under his belt he'll be able to crack 200 hits, 100 RBI's (again), 30 homers, and a .900-1.000 OPS. I'm also hoping to see him finish in the top 5-10 in hits and batting average.

As mentioned in the previous Nomar/Clemens update, Nomar had a great May, but he had an even better June/start of July. From June 1st to the present date of July 11th he's hit .407/.461/.653. He's also hit eight of his sixteen homers on the season in that time frame, and 11 of his 17 doubles have come since then, as well as 27 RBI's, 33 runs, and 61 hits. Basically half of his production for the season has come in the last 36 games.

Current team ranks:

• 1st in Batting Average
• 2nd in Homers
• 3rd in RBI's
• 5th in RBI's
• T-3rd in Runs
• 2nd in On-base Percentage
• 2nd in Slugging Percentage
• 2nd in OPS

Additionally he ranks at the following in the American League:

• 1st in Batting Average
• 1st in Hits
• 10th in Slugging Percentage

He's not too far off in runs and OPS either.

Stats for the Month

Batting Stats               AVG/OBP/SLG    GP    GS    AB     R     H    2B    3B    HR   RBI    BB     K    SB    CS  wOBA  GIDP RC/27   HBP

June 1 '97-July 11 '97:  .407/.461/.653    36    36   150    33    61    11     1     8    27    14    12     3     1  .476     7  1.66     1

High Hit Streak: 18 games (June 15, 1997 - July 4, 1997)
Most Homers/Game: 1 (June 2, 1997; June 11, 1997; June 15, 1997; June 18, 1997; June 23, 1997; July 4, 1997; July 7, 1997; July 8, 1997)
Most Hits/Game: 4 (June 1, 1997; June 2, 1997; June 27, 1997)
Most RBIs/Game: 4 (July 8, 1997)
High HR Streak: 2 games (July 7, 1997 - July 8, 1997)
Multi-Hit Games: 18

Nomar's Game of the Month

June 2nd vs. Pirates

BOSTON               ab  h bb  r hr bi  k sb     avg
N. Garciaparra (DH)   5  4  0  1  1  1  0  0    .370

SP ROGER CLEMENS (91), #1 STARTING PITCHER, 34 YEARS OLD

Season expectations: I'm not expecting another twenty win, high 2.00's or low 3.00's ERA from Clemens again. However I do think it would be reasonable to expect 14+ wins, an ERA around 3.50 to 4.00, and 200 innings pitched.

Much like Nomar, Clemens was absolutely deadly from June 1st on. In seven starts from June 1st on he pitched fifty-five innings and gave up just 11 earned runs, for an ERA of 1.79, while striking out 26 and walking 12. He hasn't been striking hitters out with the frequency we're used to seeing from him, but he's still getting wins and keeping runs off the board, and that's what is more important. He's also pulling up on 3,000 career innings pitched, and in another season or two he'll be looking for strikeout #3,000.

Ranks on the team for the season:

• 1st in Wins
• 1st in ERA
• 2nd in IP
• 2nd in K's
• 1st in BAA
• 1st in WHIP

Ranks in AL this season:

• T-1st in Wins
• 5th in K's
• 6th in ERA
• 2nd in IP
• 4th in BAA
• 2nd in OOBP
• 7th in OSLG%
• 3rd in OOPS

Earlier in the season I thought Radke was our biggest Cy Young contender, but if Clemens keeps pitching like has of late he's got a chance for another one too. That is, assuming Randy Johnson returns to Earth.

Stats for the Month

Pitching Stats                 GP      GS     REC      SV     ERA      IP       H       R      ER      HR      BB       K    DICE    WHIP     PIT  RUNSUP    QUAL

June 1 '97-July 11 '97:         7       7     6-0       0    1.79    55.1      40      11      11       5      12      26    3.89    0.94     806     6.1       5

Most Ks/Game: 7 (June 23, 1997)
High Win Streak: 6 games (June 8, 1997 - July 4, 1997)
High Loss Streak: 0 games ( - )
GS/GW/Pct: 7/7/100.00%

CLEMENS GAME OF THE MONTH

June 23rd vs. Mets

          BOSTON   ip  h bb hr  r er  k pit    ERA
      R. Clemens  9.0  3  0  0  0  0  7 122   3.32

[YEAH DAAAAWG]

July 13
Red Sox (60-29) @ Rangers (49-38)
Red Sox 8 - Rangers 5

We managed to get back to our winning ways in our first game back off the All-Star break. Nomar collected four hits and drove in two, Bonds hit home run #30 on the season and drove in three, and even Cirillo went 3-5 and raised his batting average to a very respectable .291. And although Clemens allowed four runs in just six innings of work, he still earned the win and struck out nine while walking only two.

WP: R. Clemens (15-3, 3.37)
LP: D. Cook (3-3, 5.27) - 1.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 40 pitches
SV: R. Garces (24) - 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 17 pitches
HR: B. Bonds (30), T. Hafner 2 (16)
Stars: N. Garciaparra (4-5, 1 R, 2 RBI)
Following: R. Clemens (6.0 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 9 K, 105 pitches)

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July 14
Red Sox (61-29) @ Rangers (49-39)
Red Sox 8 - Rangers 1

Brad Radke pitched great in this game, going eight innings and allowing just one run on five hits and a walk while striking out three. And one big swing of the bat with the bases loaded by Trot Nixon really helped him out, as Nixon hit a grand slam home run in the fifth inning to put us up 8-1.

WP: B. Radke (14-3, 3.26) - 8.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 103 pitches
LP: R. Pavlik (1-5, 7.26) - 4.2 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 91 pitches
HR: B. Larkin (14), T. Nixon (10)
Stars: T. Nixon (1-4, 1 R, 4 RBI)
Following: N. Garciaparra (2-5, 1 R, 1 K)

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July 15
Red Sox (62-29) @ Rangers (49-40)
Red Sox 8 - Rangers 9(11 innings)

Mark McLemore pretty much put the Rangers on his back and won this game singlehandedly for them. He went 6-6 with three runs, two home runs (including the walkoff shot in the bottom of the 11th), and four RBI's. I can't say we didn't do our best to win, as we put up three runs for the third game in a row, but the pitching just wasn't there for us tonight.

WP: J. Duchscherer (5-3, 4.05) - 4.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, 60 pitches
LP: H. Slocumb (3-1, 4.28) - 0.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, 8 pitches
HR: N. Garciaparra (17), M. McLemore 2 (3), D. Palmer (30), M. Tettleton (15)
Stars: M. McLemore (6-6, 3 R, 4 RBI)
Following: N. Garciaparra (1-6, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 K)

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Thoughts: It was good to take two of three coming off the All-Star Break. It was even better to see our offense do well, as we scored three runs in every game of the series against the Rangers. We've extended our lead in the East to double-digit games for the first time this season, and we've got Mark Langston making his first Red Sox start at home against the Mets in our next game on the 17th.

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AROUND THE LEAGUE

The Oakland A's traded shortstop Miguel Tejada (84) to the Rangers in exchange for three pitchers. The first was 24 year old reliever Julio Santana (69/81), next was 23 year old Stephen Randolph (68/78), and last was 22 year old Brian Sikorski (67/81).

[YEAH DAAAAWG]

July 17
Mets (46-45) @ Red Sox (62-30)
Mets 7 - Red Sox 4

Mark Langston's first start for us went very well......right up until the eighth inning when he gave up a three-run bomb to Todd Hundley. As has been the case very often this season, we had trouble getting the big hit to break the game open, and that is essentially why we lost this game.

WP: P. Harnisch (8-5, 4.27) - 7.0 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 0 K, 107 pitches
LP: M. Langston (3-12, 5.12) - 7.2 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 114 pitches
SV: J. Franco (22) - 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 3 pitches
HR: T. Hundley (9), R. Brogna (13), M. Mora (1)
Following: N. Garciaparra (1-4)

BREAKING NEWS

Wow. Not only did we lose the game, we also lost two of our three starting outfielders. And not only did we lose two of our three starting outfielders, we lost Barry Bonds, as well as Trot Nixon. Fortunately the injuries aren't severe and they'll be back in six days. The rest of the offense is really gonna have to step it up, as Olerud will also be missing a couple games with a broken cheekbone.

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July 18
Mets (47-45) @ Red Sox (62-31)
Mets 1 - Red Sox 4

Our two stars definitely lived up to that billing against the Mets in game #2 of this series. Clemens pitched 8 1/3 innings and allowed just one run on six hits, as well as striking out seven Mets batters. And Nomar did his part by going 3-4 and driving in a run. Additionally, Phil Clark provided offense by going 2-3 with a homer, two RBI's, and two runs.

WP: R. Clemens (16-3, 3.24)
LP: M. Clark (5-8, 5.72) - 7.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 96 pitches
SV: R. Garces (25) - 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 13 pitches
HR: P. Clark (1)
Following: N. Garciaparra (3-4, 1 RBI, 1 K), R. Clemens (8.1 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 K, 124 pitches)

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July 19
Mets (47-46) @ Red Sox (63-31)
Mets 10 - Red Sox 1

Radke pitched poorly against the Mets again, allowing six runs (four earned) in just two innings. Paul Byrd, on the other hand, did a great job at keeping our lineup at bay, allowing just one run in 7 2/3 innings. Our one run came in the first inning on B-Lark's solo homer.

WP: P. Byrd (8-5, 3.67) - 7.2 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 1 K, 129 pitches
LP: B. Radke (14-4, 3.44) - 2.1 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 47 pitches
HR: C. Everett (11), B. Larkin (15)
Following: N. Garciaparra (1-4)

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Thoughts: Well we've obviously cooled off from the 23-5 mark we posted in June (inevitably). But even in spite of losing two of three to the Mets we put another game between ourselves and the Indians in the division. Unfortunately, though, the Mariners are still ripping the American League a new one, having gone 17-3 in their last twenty games, and have a two game lead for the best record in the AL.

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AROUND THE LEAGUE

North of the border, Expos All-Star outfielder Moises Alou hit for the cycle on July 8th against the San Diego Padres.

MONTREAL             ab  h bb  r hr bi  k sb     avg
M. Alou (LF)          5  5  0  2  1  2  0  0    .324

   2B:  M. Alou 2 (22), D. Segui (7)
   3B:  M. Alou (1)
   HR:  M. Alou (19), C. Stowers (7)

[YEAH DAAAAWG]

July 20
Red Sox (63-32) @ Indians (51-43)
Red Sox 9 - Indians 2

Phil Clark continues hitting well in Bonds' stead. He hit his second homer of the season and drove in four runs against the Indians. Rondell White also had a good game, going 4-5 with a double and three runs scored. Moyer contributed one of his better starts this season, allowing just one run over seven innings and striking out six.

WP: J. Moyer (10-6, 5.08) - 7.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, 130 pitches
LP: C. Nagy (7-4, 3.86) - 5.1 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 80 pitches
HR: B. Larkin (16), P. Clark (2), J. Burnitz (5)
Stars: R. White (4-5, 3 R), P. Clark (2-3, 2 R, 4 RBI, 1 K)
Following: N. Garciaparra (2-5)

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July 21
Red Sox (64-32) @ Indians (51-44)
Red Sox 7 - Indians 9

Another doozy by Phil Clark as he drives in four runs and homers again, but the pitching cost us the win. Butch Henry allowed six runs (three earned) in five innings on seven hits, and Brian Shouse and Heathcliff Slocumb allowed three runs in two innings of work in relief of him to make matters worse.

WP: M. Trombley (3-3, 2.83) - 4.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 49 pitches
LP: B. Henry (5-2, 3.34) - 5.0 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 85 pitches
SV: J. Mesa (19) - 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 17 pitches
HR: J. Olerud (13), P. Clark (3), M. Ramirez (23), C. Perry 2 (2)
Stars: P. Clark (2-4, 2 R, 4 RBI, 1 K), C. Perry (3-4, 3 R, 4 RBI, 1 K)
Following: N. Garciaparra (1-3, 1 R, 1 BB)

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July 22
Red Sox (64-33) @ Indians (52-44)
Red Sox 7 - Indians 3

A very nice start by Mark Langston in his second Red Sox start. He went 7+ innings, while allowing just two runs on six hits, and striking out six. Nomar's batting average also continues to hover around .380 (it's .378, to be specific) after he went 2-4 with a two-run homer in this game. I'm starting to think he has an outside chance at .400, but I still wouldn't complain if his batting average DROPPED 20 points, which it probably will before the end of the season.

WP: M. Langston (4-12, 4.96) - 7.1 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, 118 pitches
LP: B. Colon (9-6, 5.74) - 3.2 IP, 9 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 60 pitches
HR: N. Garciaparra (18), P. Clark (4), A. Belle (28)
Stars: B. Larkin (4-5, 2 R, 1 RBI)
Following: N. Garciaparra (2-5, 1 R, 2 RBI)

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Thoughts: By taking two of three games head-to-head against the Indians we've stretched our lead to 12 full games over them. I know it's not over until the fat lady sings, but realistically speaking, there's no way they (or anyone else) will catch us and win the division by the end of the season. Anyways, next up we've got the Twins at home, on the road for the Indians again, and then back home for the Mariners.

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AROUND THE LEAGUE

[YEAH DAAAAWG]

Sooooo, just so you guys know this might be going on a slight hiatus soon. One reason being my Spring Break in two weeks. The second reason being that my mom is extremely sick (don't know exactly what it is yet, but she's gonna have surgery to remove a cyst and there's some other stuff going on) and I might be going home to take care of her for a week prior to my spring break. Of course there's also the chance that me going home to take care of her proves extremely boring and uneventful and that I'll just have a shitload of time to put toward this, but that remains to be seen. Regardless, just letting you to not jump out of your pants if there aren't any updates for a couple weeks. Current plans are to keep this going after everything quiets down.

[BM_MAN]

This is a Really Good Read Mate, Keep it up

[YEAH DAAAAWG]

July 23
Twins (39-59) @ Red Sox (65-33)
Twins 4 - Red Sox 9

Our last game without Bonds and Nixon not in the lineup and we put up nine runs -- strange how that works out. Phil Clark again provided a big hit, sending the go-ahead, eventual game-winning three-run homer to the left field seats in the eighth inning. Rondell White also homered and drove in a run, and Dwayne Hosey drove in two runs of his own.

WP: M. Stanton (3-1, 5.00) - 3.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 36 pitches
LP: T. Wakefield (4-11, 4.94) - 7.2 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 115 pitches
HR: R. White (16), P. Clark (5)
Following: N. Garciaparra (0-5), R. Clemens (6.0 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 92 pitches)

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July 24
Twins (39-60) @ Red Sox (66-33)
Twins 0 - Red Sox 4

Bonds and Nixon were hitless in their returns to the line-up, but luckily Brad Radke was so good we didn't need much offense. Radke threw 8 2/3 shutout innings before giving up a hit with two outs in the ninth and getting pulled in favor El Guapo. In the 8 2/3 innings he surrendered just three hits, walked only three, and struck out seven opposing batters. Barry Larkin supplied most of the offense by driving in three runs, but Nomar also did his part by hitting a solo homer in the sixth.

WP: B. Radke (15-4, 3.26) - 8.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 7 K, 121 pitches
LP: E. Milton (2-7, 5.09) - 6.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 105 pitches
HR: N. Garciaparra (19)
Following: N. Garciaparra (2-4, 1 R, 1 RBI, 2 K)

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July 25
Twins (39-61) @ Red Sox (67-33)
Twins 6 - Red Sox 8

Two errors by the Twins led to four unearned runs given up by their starter, Frank Rodriguez, and that was the difference in the game. Bonds went hitless again, but did walk and score twice, whilest Nixon managed to drive in two runs and backup catcher Joe Oliver hit his first home run of the season in giving Ausmus the day off.

WP: H. Slocumb (4-1, 4.81) - 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 23 pitches
LP: P. Mahomes (0-1, 5.08) - 2.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 26 pitches
SV: R. Garces (26) - 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 20 pitches
HR: P. Molitor (7), J. Oliver (1)
Stars: P. Molitor (4-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, 1 BB)
Following: N. Garciaparra (2-5, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 K)

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Date
Twins (39-62) @ Red Sox (68-33)
Twins 5 - Red Sox 8

Mark Langston helps us complete the four game sweep in spite of a relatively poor performance. Bonds collected his first hit, RBI's, and runs since returning from injury, going 2-4 with a double, a walk, a run, and two RBI's. Barry Larkin also homered and drove in three runs, Cirillo drove in three as well.

WP: S. Belinda (1-1, 3.31) - 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 33 pitches
LP: T. Miller (3-5, 6.06) - 1.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 41 pitches
SV: R. Garces (27) - 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 16 pitches
HR: D. Hollins 2 (14), D. Miller (3), B. Larkin (17)
Stars: D. Hollins (2-4, 2 R, 4 RBI, 2 K)
Following: N. Garciaparra (1-4, 1 BB)

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Thoughts: The four game sweep stretches our divisional lead to 13 games and ties us for first in overall record in the American League. We now go back to Cleveland to play the Indians again, before going home and playing the Mariners.

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AROUND THE LEAGUE

[YEAH DAAAAWG]

Well, **** me. I made a big mistake and effectively killed this dynasty.

Last night I was messing around and did a multiple season sim and simmed up until Nomar retired and a few years beyond to see if he made the Hall of Fame, and more generally to see how the careers of our stars, Nomar and Clemens, might turn out. And when I closed BBM last night because I was tired and it was late and because I do it instinctively, I saved the file. Meaning that Clemens and Nomar's careers are over, as is this dynasty now. I'm gonna post screenshots of how their numbers and such came up next, but this really sucks.

In case you're wondering, I am planning on starting up another dynasty in spite of this. I already have a team and timeframe and format in my head, and I'm planning on starting it later tonight or sometime tomorrow.

[YEAH DAAAAWG]

CLEMENS CAREER

Not a bad career at all. Made the Hall of Fame pretty easily, but unfortunately never won a ring . He also managed to win the Cy Young again in the season that this prematurely ended in.

NOMAR CAREER

An even more impressive career. 3500+ hits, 450+ homers, career line of .315/.371/.516/.887. Unfortunately he never won a ring either, but that shouldn't take away from the fact that he has absolutely stunning numbers.

[Alloutwar]

Oh man. Can't believe the AI just let Nomar walk to the White Sox?? And Clemens, wow he retired earlier than IRL.

Just to be safe, I create a new save file every month game-time, to avoid losing everything in case of a catastrophe like this.

I am sorry for your loss.

[YEAH DAAAAWG]

Oh man. Can't believe the AI just let Nomar walk to the White Sox?? And Clemens, wow he retired earlier than IRL.

Just to be safe, I create a new save file every month game-time, to avoid losing everything in case of a catastrophe like this.

I am sorry for your loss.

Like as in having a bunch of different saves for the same game? Maybe I'll do that for the next one.

[Alloutwar]

You betcha. My Indians dynasty has a save for every month, during AND after the season. Lots of 4 meg files, but man it saves a lot of headaches or issues.

Once you've progressed a few years you can delete them, but I like being able to look back and verify that indeed, the Nationals were in first when they made that trade, even though they're in 4th now, etc. I can also see players performance over a month, etc.

[YEAH DAAAAWG]

You betcha. My Indians dynasty has a save for every month, during AND after the season. Lots of 4 meg files, but man it saves a lot of headaches or issues.

Once you've progressed a few years you can delete them, but I like being able to look back and verify that indeed, the Nationals were in first when they made that trade, even though they're in 4th now, etc. I can also see players performance over a month, etc.

That's a really good idea. I'll definitely start doing that. Especially since I'm planning on going on a month-by-month basis with the next one.

[PotatoOfCouch13]

Fast-forward to 2:33

That pretty much sums up my reaction. Too bad man, good luck on your next project